by Jeremy Solomons | 14 Feb 2025 | Africa, Decoders, History, Human Rights, Politics
African leaders work to contain intensified conflict in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and ensure it won’t spread to neighboring nations. M23 rebels release captured Romanian mercenaries, who were fighting alongside Democratic Republic...
by Enock Wanderema | 4 Feb 2025 | Africa, Human Rights, Politics
One young Ugandan activist says its time for her generation to stand up and exercise the power their constitution gives them. Aloikin Praise Opoloje staging a naked protest in Kamapala, Uganda, 21 September 2024. (Photo courtesy of Aloikin Praise Opoloje) This article...
by Ferrukh Faruqui | 3 Feb 2025 | Economy, Health and Wellness, Human Rights, University of Toronto Journalism Fellows, Women
Some believe the business of surrogacy commodifies women. Does everyone have the right to a biological baby or does surrogacy violate the rights of the child? 3D image of a human fetus inside a womb. (Credit: digitalgenetics/Getty images) This article was produced...
by Marcy Burstiner | 8 Jan 2025 | Decoder Replay, Human Rights, Journalism
The imprisonment in Iran of Italian journalist and podcaster Cecilia Sala reminds us of how dangerous it can be to inform the public. Celia Sala recording a podcast. (Credit: AP/Chora Media) Editor’s note: Today, the Italian government announced that journalist...
by Barry Moody | 20 Dec 2024 | Africa, Decoders, History, Human Rights, Politics
An endless civil war in Sudan has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. But the world’s attention lies elsewhere. Sudanese refugees displaced by the conflict in Sudan gather to receive food staples from aid agencies at the Metche Camp in eastern...
by Bernd Debusmann | 16 Dec 2024 | Decoders, History, Human Rights, Israel-Palestine, Politics
The United States has shown staunch support for Israel since its birth as a state. But that was before it decided to decimate the Palestinian territories. Donald Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate, 26 July 2024, in Palm...
by News Decoder | 11 Dec 2024 | Decoder Replay, History, Human Rights, Politics, Syria
The fall of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad has given hope to millions of Syrian refugees who fled their country during its 13-year civil war. We look back at the start and evolution of the conflict. Syrians wait to cross into Syria from Turkey at the Cilvegözü border...
by Tom Heneghan | 4 Nov 2024 | Human Rights, Politics, Religion
New laws that affect what church people can pray in could cost Ukraine support from those who believe in religious freedom. Metropolitan Epiphanius, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, blesses water during a traditional Epiphany celebration in Kyiv, Ukraine, 6...
by Daniel Warner | 16 Sep 2024 | Decoders, Educators' Catalog, History, Human Rights, Politics
Russia didn’t attend the 75th birthday of the Geneva Conventions. Are the treaties that govern how nations conduct war still relevant in today’s chaotic world? Members of the UN Security Council mark the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Geneva...
Use this piece to explore international relations, geopolitics, the politics and history of conflict. Last month marked the 75th Anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. Russia didn’t attend. Political Scientist Daniel Warner decodes whether the treaties that govern how nations conduct war are still relevant in today’s chaotic world.
Exercise: Debate. Split students into groups. In each group, divide students into two teams. One will defend the Geneva Conventions, the other is against the conventions. In preparation, watch this video and share the ICRC website. Each team undertakes research to build an argument for their case. Ask students to debate the issue. After the debate, discuss the difficulties teams had in supporting their arguments.
by Jeremy Solomons | 5 Sep 2024 | Educators' Catalog, History, Human Rights, Politics
Can even leaders on the wrong side of history be credited for good outcomes? Can awful leaders be awe-inspiring? Then-Libyan President Moammar Gaddafi arrives in Venezuela, 25 September 2009 to attend the Africa-South America, ASA, summit. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)...
As half the world goes to the polls this year, Jeremy Solomons asks: Can even leaders on the wrong side of history be credited for good outcomes? Can awful leaders be awe-inspiring? Explore leadership, leaders and their legacies with your class and push them to develop their critical thinking and argumentation skills.
Exercise: Choose a controversial leader, dead or alive. You may agree or disagree with their position, politics or legacy. Build a picture of some of their decisions that had widespread negative impacts and find some positive aspects to their leadership. Next, play devil’s advocate and try to argue the good or positives that may have come from negative decisions. How might people on both opinion sides see the leader’s legacy? To conclude, students can express their own views on the matter and find nuanced arguments and discourse to express these.